Here at Crexi we are avid readers. Not a week goes by where a book recommendation isn’t shared, or a rave review on a recently completed novel isn’t posted in Slack. In honor of World Book Day (4/23), we decided to round up some of our favorite investing and commercial real estate books and share the list with our readers.
Here are our top book picks, in no particular order:
1. Rich Dad, Poor Dad by Robert Kiyosaki
What’s it about
The overarching theme of this book is how to use money as a tool for wealth generation intentionally. It decimates several myths about finances and explains the main struggles people face when trying to develop wealth. In Rich Dad, Poor Dad, Kiyosaki teaches readers how to put their money to work for them instead of working for money.
Why we love it
First published in 1997, this book quickly became an essential pick for people interested in investing, money, and the economy. It’s been translated into dozens of languages, sold around the world, and – more than 20 years later – has remained one of the top Personal Finance books of all time. Despite its unconventional title, this book is full of pearls of wisdom on how to take control of your finances and generate wealth through business, investments, and a reframed mindset.
2. The Man Who Solved the Market: How Jim Simons Launched the Quant Revolution by Gregory Zuckerman
What’s it about
This book illustrates the inspiring story of former mathematician and intelligence agency employee Jim Simons, who “solved the market” and became the most successful money manager in modern history. Tapping into his mathematical genius, Zuckerman chronicles how Simons’ fund beat the market using computers in 1988 and has consistently averaged annualized returns of 66% every year since.
Why we love it
Zuckerman’s book engagingly shares the life lessons and powerful key takeaways from Jim Simons’ decades of investment experience. The story is inspiring and ripe with actionable insights any savvy investor can make in their financial career path.
Find The Man Who Solved the Market here.
3. The Essays of Warren Buffet
What’s it about
The ultimate curation of Warren Buffett’s insights on everything from investing to markets, this book features a collection of his most powerful Berkshire Hathaway shareholder letters, arranged by topic by notable author Lawrence Cunningham.
Why we love it
The king of investing’s shareholder letters are legendary. For more than 50 years, Warren Buffett’s annual letter has provided transparent, valuable insight into his intelligent investment philosophy. In its fifth edition, this collection contains dozens of lessons essential for newcomer investors and seasoned veterans alike.
Find The Essays of Warren Buffet here.
4. The Intelligent Investor by Benjamin Graham
What’s it about
One of the greatest investment advisors of the twentieth century, Benjamin Graham’s inspirational story and philosophies are built from his real-world experience. After his family fell into poverty in the financial crash of 1907, Graham turned his life around, studying at Columbia University, climbing the ranks of Wall Street to eventually run his own investment firm. He amassed a wealth of expertise through his decades in the financial markets, and this book distills his insights into a must-read volume.
Why we love it
This book spends little time discussing the day-to-day aspects of analyzing specific securities. Rather, The Intelligent Investor focuses on foundational investing principles and honing investor attitudes. Though it was published first in 1949, the underlying principles of fruitful investments have changed little from decade to decade. This book covers how to minimize irreversible losses, maximize sustainable gains, and overcome self-defeating thought patterns that prevent investors from achieving their full potential.
Find The Intelligent Investor here.
5. Zeckendorf: The autobiography of the man who played a real-life game of Monopoly and won the largest real estate empire in history. by William Zeckendorf
What’s it about
William Zeckendorf, the head of Webb & Knapp, executed some of the largest real estate transactions since the days of the Louisiana Purchase. Enthusiastically energetic and fast-moving, Zeckendorf bought and sold property in the mid-20th century, remodeling New York, Denver, Montreal, Dallas, and Washington in the process. Zeckendorf played a real-life game of Monopoly, amassing the largest real estate empire in the world.
Why we love it
This autobiography bursts with Zeckendorf’s vitality and financial know-how. It offers a first-person insight into the unique opportunities and growth in commercial real estate that occurred during his active years and entertaining all the while. The book captures his essential investment principles too, and the history is fascinating to boot.
Find Zeckendorf’s autobiography here.
6. Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur: What It Takes to Win in High-Stakes Commercial Real Estate by James Randel
What’s it about
This book was written for any individual ready to get serious about investing in commercial real estate. It teaches its readers to “add value” to real estate rather than offer a hollow list of get-rich-quick tactics. Cutting through the nonsense, Randel illustrates what a real deal looks like, how they are financed, how they are found, and several lessons in eyeing trends and optimizing relationships.
Why we love it
James Randel teaches investing through stories and anecdotes, featuring not only his successes (and their incredible stories) but also his mistakes and the lessons learned. His candor is refreshing, and whether you invest in land, condos, or anything in between, you’ll find this book both an essential introduction to commercial real estate and a value-add to the seasoned investor.
Find Confessions of a Real Estate Entrepreneur here.
7. Fanatical Prospecting: The Ultimate Guide to Opening Sales Conversations and Filling the Pipeline by Leveraging Social Selling, Telephone, Email, Text, and Cold Calling by Jeb Blount
What’s it about
This book provides any salesperson or entrepreneur a practical, illuminating guide to clearly explain both the why and how behind the essential (yet often torturous) aspect of sales and business development: prospecting. Fanatical Prospecting teaches how to stop wasting time and keep your pipeline full.
Why we love it
For brokers, it’s all about the cold calls and building relationships. This book is a well-rounded guide to both prospecting and sales and includes innovative tactics for the next generation of cold-calling, including advice on text messaging and social media. Learn how to keep your pipeline full of qualified leads and real-world tactics to form value-add relationships and close more deals.
